Last night's drawn-out drip, drip, drip announcement by King James about his move to the Miami Heat was PATHETIC to watch. In fact, it was unwatchable.
And you thought professional basketball NBA-style was just a game? Apparently, Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cavaliers, was not amused, evidenced by
this post last night on the team's official website.
In a smaller sidebar story that also involves the Cleveland Cavaliers getting the short end of the stick (again), the day before Lebron announced his decision Carlos Boozer jumped ship in Utah for Chicago and the Bulls. So now Cleveland has two ex-patriots they love to hate. Boozer was
likewise excoriated by local sports columnist, Brad Rock, in the
Deseret Morning News. I thought it was the best article I've ever seen from "da Rockmonsta."
Every team will tell you they want to win the championship with a straight face, determined growl in their voice, but when you start to believe the hype you have lost sight of the reality -- sports is entertainment, particularly professional sports -- end of story.
B
Surprised that you follow this kind of stuff. But you say that this is a chronicle of our lives and times, and since our society is so sports-saturated, I guess there's some rationale here.
ReplyDeleteSome random thoughts:
1) Seems like almost all the big stars come to the NBA right out of high school, or a year out of college. Perhaps with rare exception, that lack of education leaves them without the intellect, experience, wisdom, and emotional maturity necessary to good judgment and adult self-management, let alone the ability to withstand the temptations that come their way. Seems I've seen several teasers lately on Yahoo about NBA stars who made millions and are now broke.
2) I can't watch the NBA anymore because the players are so grotesque, not to mention egomaniacal. They have defiled their temples with tattoos. They are just sickening to look at. Besides, the whole thing looks like a 48-minute foul-fest at playoff time.
3) My favorite team of the recent(?) past has been the Spurs, followed by the Suns. They seemed to exude class. With SA, you had David Robinson, who I've heard is a real good guy, played for Navy and did his tour before coming to the NBA. Then Ginobli, Parker, and best of all, Tim Duncan, who is incredibly boring to watch, but he's extremely effective. A philosophy major from Wake Forest, I think he graduated with his degree. It seems to serve him well, he takes all the banging around in stride. Popovich has seemed to be a coach that mirrors the spirit of his team: stoic, disciplined, in control, and victorious. This is likely an idealized account, but I quit being a sports nut at about age 21.
4) With the responsibilities placed on us, we should be occasional spectators at most. The building up of Zion should be our great objective, according to the Prophet. In my opinion, that leaves little time for spectator sports (I'm not impugning participation in athletics for health and well-being, or watching your grandkids' play Little League). Besides, it is the Roman circus all over again; the coliseum, the gladiators, the frenzied, insatiable masses, instituted or promoted for the same purpose. I think that is the point of your post.
The priesthood's absorption in sports is one of Gileadi's diatribes against modern-day Israel.
5) On the lighter side: Pro sports, especially the NBA and NFL, have become more theatrical, thus bearing increasing resemblance to pro wrestling, probably intentionally. Makes me nostalgic for the days of my youth when I'd watch that every Saturday afternoon. Bruno Sammartino, Killer Kowalski, The Iron Sheik, Victor Rivera, Chief Jay Strongbow, Toru Tanaka and Mr. Fuji, Gorilla Monsoon, Haystacks Calhoun (620 lbs.), The Grand Wizard of Wrestling, and so many others. Then the early Hulk Hogan era: Crazy Lou Albano, Ivan Putski ("Polish Power!"), Andre the Giant, The Bushwackers, Macho Man Randy Savage, and of course, Rowdy Rodney Piper. The interviews were always better than the matches. Spanning these eras was George "The Animal" Steele, who according to my father was the greatest American ever. What great theater. Then it got sicker and sicker, or perhaps I matured, so off it went.
sigh... those were the good old days
Amen, brother!!
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